Jake and Han discuss Religion (predictably), Charity, Weddings and give a small shout out to mice. They claim to have been a little grumpy during the recording so why not grind your teeth and grump along with them!

Iran is one of seven nations
(Afghanistan, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan being the
other six) where apostasy is legally punishable by death. A stronger incentive not to be counted as
infidel is probably harder to come by. And yet, to date, 3,468 atheists in Iran
have gone to atheistcensus.com to do just that.

To be part of society in Iran,
religious affiliation – Muslim or otherwise - is required: for official forms,
for social inclusion, for just appearing “normal”. Despite the religious appearance, Iran is one
of the top 10 contributors to the Atheist Census, suggesting that atheists do
indeed exist there. It’s just that they
are hidden.

In this context, it was heartening and
harrowing to receive an unsolicited email from an Iranian woman who warmly
thanked the creators of Atheist Census for giving her a forum to be counted. It was notable that she identified herself as
atheist, an Iranian and a global citizen.
She was appreciative, but was not
satisfied with counting herself anonymously. She mentioned that she was going to tell her
“numerous” non-religious friends about the site.

According to the latest statistics on
Atheist Census, 88% of Iranians who took the short, six question survey, were
raised Muslim. They have now rejected
their (former) faith. They are
apostates. The entomology of apostasy
comes from the Greek “apostasia” which means “revolt”. When apostasy is possibly a life and death
situation, it is not hyperbole to say that being counted as an atheist is a
revolutionary act. Perhaps it is even
more so when a woman professes herself as infidel, given the oppression of
women in particular in Islamic countries. This atheist, this Iranian, indeed this global
citizen who was counted in Atheist Census and then took the time to send me an
email, was one woman among the (only) 20% of Iranians who have been counted in
Atheist Census that identify as female.

Often surveys are important to those who
have created them. This short story
shows that some surveys can also be important to those who participate in them.

In their “welcome back” episode, Jake and Han discuss the sneaky politics of the Christian right, the exclusion of humanists and atheists from the post-bombing events in Boston, and the free speech protests this week. Enjoy it all here!

Pupils at Kasese Humanist Primary School numbering close to sixty participated in an event that involved planting of trees along their recently acquired permanent site on the river banks of River Nyamwamba, which borders the property in the west.

The students left from school in the evening hours of Thursday 18 April 2013 led by the School Director accompanied by the School Headteacher plus some 3 teachers. Movement to this site was by foot from the current site, along the Kasese - Fortportal highway, and they purchased a number of trees seedlings from a nearby nursery bed. We passed along the Majengo-Rukoki Trading center and headed to the School Project.

The children were so excited to learn of the news that this is going to be a future permanent home of the school. They posed for a photograph at the recently plastered building within the property. There are some plantains, bumpkins, pepper and mangoes and the kids tried their luck and took what was available.

Each child planted a tree in a hole and the trees will be looked after such that they grow and as it's rainy season now, there is a good chance they will grow. This exercise took close to two hours.

The purpose of the trees along the river bunks includes to curb soil erosion, provide shade and fresh air and to add on the beauty of the scenery. This exercise is going to continue in more weeks to come.

A fundraising campaign is in progress as the school management tries to mobilise resources to put up classroom blocks on the site and all well wishers and friends of Kasese Humanist Primary School are encouraged to support us materially, financially or morally such that we succeed in commencing bigger construction works in March 2014. If you would like to support Kasese Humanist Primary School please donate through AAI.

Following consultation with members, AAI is pleased to announce that it has finalised its position statement on freedom of expression. This statement is intended to provide a concise reference and coherent argument that members and other atheists may use in situations in their own countries, and refute the common accusation that 'atheists stand for nothing'. Thank you everyone who contributed their views!

In each of these cases Islam was apparently 'offended', providing 'justification' for the crimes against these apostates and blasphemers. Those who claim Islam is a religion of peace need to think further about the behaviour of Islamists and how they justify their actions.

Atheist Ireland, an Affiliate of AAI, will be hosting Empowering Women through Secularism in Dublin, 29-30 June 2013. The speaker line up is excellent - Annie Laurie Gaylor, Maryam Namazie, Taslima Nasrin, Ophelia Benson, Rebecca Watson, PZ Myers and Dan Barker, as well as AAI President Carlos Diaz. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity - early bird tickets now on sale for EUR100. For more information click here.

In this episode Jake and Han talk about atheist churches, the accusations of elitism and the horrors committed in the name of faith. They also interview Indian atheist writer Rastam Singh. Click here for the Secular World podcast.

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